Mick Schumacher has placed the blame for his costly free practice Japanese Grand Prix Formula 1 shunt on "spray" from another car. Towards the end of FP1, in which he was seventh quickest, Schumacher was returning to the pits after completing a practice start on the grid with rival drivers. Rounding Turn 7 - Dunlop - he "aquaplaned" into the wall, plucking the front wheels off and forcing himself out of FP2 as Haas changed the chassis. Teammate Kevin Magnussen went fourth quickest in FP2 as Schumacher's weekend got off to a bad start as he fights to save his F1 career. However, speaking to media after the second session, Schumacher was clear in his mind about what the root cause of the shunt actually was.
Schumacher on accident cause
"I think it was more from the fact that we had a car ahead which threw up a lot of spray," he explained to media including RacingNews365.com. "I didn't really see much of where to put the car. It wasn't great [either] that we lost a lot of [tyre] temperature from the practice start. "And on top of that, we were in a mode in which we tried to learn as much as we can to be able to have all the right settings for the race. "You're trying to figure out the track itself - it is obviously my first time here - and trying to see where the puddles are - because that's something that is very different every place you go to. "Unfortunately here, the water seems to accumulate quite a bit at certain areas. It's just a matter of understanding that. "Had it happened two metres later, I probably would have just had a 360 spin and kept going - but things happen for a reason. I don't know what that reason behind it is now, but maybe in 10 years' time, I will."
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Mick Schumacher found the barrier on his way back to the pits at the end of FP1 😣 #JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/rvsZWOlCoM — Formula 1 (@F1) October 7, 2022
Schumacher on future
Schumacher is locked in talks with Haas about staying on for a third season with the team, although it is doubtful he will be retained. However, he maintained his stance of enjoying the pressure he is under. "I mean pressure is something that I've been dealing with for quite some time. And I would say even all my life. So I don't mind that," the 2020 Formula 2 champion explained. "On the other hand, I always want to do my best. "And it doesn't matter what happened before. We take one thing at a time, and that's now FP3 tomorrow and then qualifying."
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